The Diary of Samuel Pepys

I'm torn about this book. Part of me wants to give it five stars for timeliness and perspective on the present day, given the recent revelations of men behaving badly. If Bill Clinton or Harvey Weinstein had kept a diary much of it would read just like that of Pepys. The man rarely encountered a ser......more

What an insight into the period! I’m tempted to read the rest of his diaries. This selection includes the most incredible moments, such as when he unwittingly joins a plot to fetch James II / VII from exile and sail him back to seize the English and Scottish crown. His honesty is admirable… he puts t......more

Audio book and abridged. He certainly lived in momentus times. My only quibble with this text was the compilers went to the trouble to translate Pepys's short hand back to text but failed to translate the portions written in French or Spanish to English. I don't have command enough of those language......more

He certainly lived in interesting times, return of the King from over the water (soon regretted), fire, plague, shagging, Lady Castlemaine, Nell Gwynne (best at the comic and mad roles) Buckingham and the Cabal and the navy. The Dutch war, lots of maids he groped and £50 for a new coach and £50 more......more

I want to shake Pepys. I wanted 1600's man to be wholly different than he. It's an interesting diary that includes accounts of the great fire and the plague, as well as his dalliances, and much humor, such as buying a lewd book, in a plain cover, to read, then burn, so it will not ruin his bookshelve......more